lifeaftr | November Undercurrent: And We Give Thanks

November Undercurrent: And We Give Thanks

NOVEMBER UNDERCURRENT

Who: Everyone!
What: Have you told someone you loved them yet?
When: November 3rd to November 20th
Where: Everywhere!
Warnings: Nothing of note; please mark if anything comes up!

Take Me Back to the Reasons Why
The Water wishes to demonstrate their power to you, as well as just what they mean, when they suggest that they require your cooperation. They are going to bring back the harvest island of Nuidan, a generally fondly remembered island that explorers have encountered in the past. What's more, they're going to require your help to do it.

Starting November 3rd, characters will discover a simple strip of dark leather among their belongings, meant to be worn around the neck or wrist. They can disregard it, of course, but if they attempt to discard or destroy it, it will always find its way back to them, no matter how improbable this might seem. How strange...

Perhaps even stranger is the sudden appearance of a smooth slab of stone, half-submerged in the waters just off of Ensō's coast. It's an altar, and around its edges are a series of deep notches, as though something is meant to be inserted into them. In its center is a pool of water, though it curiously doesn't seem to reflect anything.

The purpose of this will only really become obvious once the month goes on. Characters will find themselves to compelled to be honest with the people around them as to why they care, why they appreciate them as people, or what they like most about them. This compulsion can vary wildly and at the player's discretion, from a gentle mental pressure to an unstoppable force, and anything in between!

The bottom line is that every time one admits to some feeling of gratitude, no matter how small or big, their little plait of leather will receive a crystal from the interaction. All crystals will be roughly the same shape, but they may vary in color, pattern, and texture. Some might be simple sticks of quartz, while others might be comprised of myriad, ever-changing swirls of color. Again, the only limit here is your imagination.

Now the presence of that strange, altar-shaped stone in the water might make a bit more sense. Those notches in its sides are the perfect size and shape to fit a crystal smoothly into any one of them. The more grateful interactions one has with others, the more crystals they will gather, and the more they can fit into the altar. As more crystals are fed to the altar, it will start to glow. The pool of water at the altar's top will start to reflect the likeness island of Nuidan in increasing clarity, as though one is peering at its likeness in a snowglobe. What's more is that the number of crystals in the altar will very obviously affect Nuidan's state: very few crystals will make the island look as though it is mostly wilderness only a handful of structures in dire need of repair, while a great deal of crystals will cause the island to look as though it is thriving, in full bloom, and in more need of harvest than maintenance.

But, ultimately, the state in which Nuidan returns to you is up to you...and how far you're willing to go to express a little gratitude. Don't worry if you don't know anyone, either - this marks a great opportunity to start doing nice things for people, even if you don't know them! You've got most of the month to get to know each other, after all.

Don't think you can get away with heaping compliments on your closest friends and companions, however; variety is the name of the game here. While you can collect all sorts of crystals for personal use from repeat interactions, you can only feed one crystal to the altar per person. That is to say, Character A can be as grateful to Character B as they like, but only one crystal from each character can be delivered to the altar. If they want to procure more for the altar's purposes, Character A will have to have a positive interaction with Character C, and so on.

Take Me Back to That Big Sky

Of course, there's a lot going on in the background as well. You're free to use this log as a catch-all for the duration of November's Undercurrent Event, as well as the other minor events listed on our Monthly Rundown post. You are very, very free to let your dreams about creepers and baby lorbies become reality, and you are always free to create your own individual logs and posts as needed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them over on our Monthly Rundown post!

November Timeline

[ ♆ ] November 3rd: "And We Give Thanks" begins and lasts until November 20th
[ ♆ ] November 4th: "Aw, Man" begins and lasts until November 12th
[ ♆ ] November 11th: "The Lorblings" begins and lasts until November 25th
[ ♆ ] November 20th: Nuidan returns to the archipelago
[ ♆ ] November 21st: "Return to Your Roots" begins and lasts until November 30th

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

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I will take this attempt at getting us to express honest feelings over the flowers, that is for certain.

[Ignis shivers and pointedly forces himself to not think about that, curling farther into Ardyn's side when the redhead puts his arm around him.]

Of course. You know I always have time for you.

I've been thinking, and I may finally have settled on a course of action.

[Ardyn pulled away after saying that, but only a little; he took Ignis' hand in both of his own, on one knee in front of him.]

I've no way of testing my capability, especially not here with my powers so limited. But...if you would allow, if it is something you would wish...would you accept the chance to share my power?

Ardyn?

[Concern turns the redhead's name into a question when he pulls away. Had it been wrong to mention their experiences with the flowers even so vaguely? Fortunately, Ardyn doesn't leave him in the dark for long, taking his hand and making it very clear that he's not upset at all.]

Before I answer that, are you certain about this? Island influence aside?

[It takes Ignis a while to give that answer. He doesn't want to make it seem like he is rejecting the idea because he's not. Indeed, there is a great appeal in the idea of having a connection like that again, especially with how close they have come to be, but even with that closeness, he knows there are times when Ardyn still needs to be by himself. Ignis doesn't want to have their connection become a burden, or even worse, another weight upon Ardyn's shoulders. He has too many of those already.]

Sure enough. I was contemplating it long before whatever this is chose to set in.

[He squeezed Ignis' hand slightly, starting to speak with barely any thought. If he'd planned this (and he had, extensively), it was rapidly falling apart and being improvised.]

You are, beyond any doubt, exceptional and unique. To stand in defiance of gods, kings, and daemons all alike with not a sliver of fear is a beautiful and enviable trait I wish I could say I possessed myself. Things have changed drastically since we were last home, and the change is one credited entirely to you. Without you, this person...whoever, whatever I am, this person would not exist. This-...the pain of mere existence is vastly lessened with you at my side, and the fact that you remain despite everything I have done in general and to you specifically...I've neither the words nor the means to express my gratitude for your patience in past, present, and hopefully future alike.

...I care about you. In some twisted and broken capacity barely resembling the sentiment, I may even love you, or at least am trying to. I would wish you to be able to keep yourself safe, and to express my thanks in whatever small amount I am capable.

So if you would accept, and if it is within my ability to grant, I would offer it with no more hesitation.

[They had talked about it a little, of course, after waking up from the nap they'd taken together shortly after he had been hurt, Ardyn exhausted and worried and Ignis with the memory of how close to death he had come once more fresh in his mind. It's not too surprising to find that Ardyn has been thinking on it since then, but Ignis always has to ask the question anyway. To check and make sure, to push ahead steadily, not rushed in the way that has caused them to hurt each other in the past because they went too far, too fast.

He gives Ardyn's hand a squeeze, not wanting his silence to worry the redhead and then goes a step farther by taking his free hand and resting is against his beloved's cheek, thumb bushing over lips, finding the sincerity there, the certainty. A soft chuckle leaves Ignis own lips at the string of compliments. He's still oddly shy to the genuine ones. He's heard so many over his life, but most have run off his back like water because they were not genuine, instead, only words meant to earn favor with one so close to the prince and king.

Oh, but thinking of Noctis and Regis perhaps is a mistake. It leads him to thinking of the others. Of Gladio and Prompto, Lunafreya and everyone else who has been here and now is gone. What would Gladio think of all this? Ignis blinks his eyes, lashes suddenly slightly damp, though he only vaguely notices it. Gladio had fought so hard with him to help get Ardyn here and...Astrals, the sentimental fool would probably be laughing as he tried not to cry, crushing them both in a bear hug no matter how much Ardyn protested and threatened to kill him.]

Oh, beloved.

[Ignis leans forward, drawing Ardyn into a hug, tucking his head into the redhead's neck. What would Noctis think should he ever come back? Especially if he has no memory of being here before? Would it hurt him to feel that Ignis had forged such a personal bond with someone else? With Ardyn? The elder Noctis that had been here, he understood--he approved--but he too had seen what Ignis had at the storytelling fire so long ago. He knew there was still good in Ardyn. How would he explain that to a Noctis just starting on his journey? To one fresh from all the pain of Altissia?]

Do you even need to ask when you have put up with my stubborn foolishness for so long even though it has caused you to so much pain and the gain was one we only hoped for in our wildest dreams?

[He would find a way, of course. This has all be about journeys and paths only certain people can go down. Prompto, Gladio, and Noctis had walked with them a while, but now only he and Ardyn remain to find the end that will make things better for them all.

They must be doing something right. After all, it has already made things better for one very specific person.]

Yes. Yes, I will. I will take whatever this place allows you to give me.

Edited (Of course I miss at least ONE typo in a tag this big....) 2019-11-04 07:52 (UTC)

[Lifetimes of anger had carved themselves deep into the weary lines beneath Ignis' hand, had crushed out a kind if shortsighted heart until little else remained. Even now he couldn't find it in himself to truly regret all that he'd done; acknowledge it was all terrible, certainly. But regret? Regret was beyond him now, with so much of his existence shrieking for vengeance against someone, anyone, everyone. He'd taken aim at the wrong targets, but he wasn't about to ask forgiveness when he'd done what he wanted, what he was pushed into as his role, when he'd been made to take vengeance he desired anyway.]

[Ardyn Lucis Caelum was not a good person. But gods, sometimes he wanted to be a better one. Not a saint by any means, but he wanted the right kind of vengeance on the one who deserved it. He wanted mundane enjoyment in more than just casual murder, wanton violence, or any other manner of mayhem and ruin. He wanted to be able to care about someone that thought anything about him mattered. Who thought, perhaps correctly, that there was more than vengeance and hatred to him.]

Nonsense. It's you that's tolerated me for so long despite everything. I'm well aware that I...don't exactly make things easy, even at the best of times. So I want to thank you for that, as well.

[Maybe he wasn't a good person. That was fine; he didn't want to be. A good, selfless, self-sacrificing person did nothing but dig their own grave with every piece of themselves given up so that others could flourish. Perhaps this once he'd give part of himself because he desired to, not because it was morally right. Because it was offered freely and welcomed gratefully.]

[So that no one would die in his arms again.]

I've never done it before; even without the island getting in the way, I am not entirely sure I can. But I would like to try.

[Once, so long ago when Monsun had just appeared for the first time, Ignis had told Ardyn that the fate of that good, selfless, self-sacrificing person was what he knew his own fate to be. Pieces given out, light shined until there was nothing left but those who rose in his place. He was all right with that then, but now...

Well, perhaps it is not just Ardyn who has moved closer to middle ground. There are things that Ignis wants for himself now. Not just pieces given away, but desires wishing to be fulfilled as well. Things received in equal measure to those given away. Or, at least, closer to equal measure than they were before.

Like this. With all the future trouble that could come with such a bond, Ignis still wants it with all his heart. Logically, it's dangerous, he knows, but it is not logic he is listening to today.

He presses a kiss to the skin near his lips and then sits back, an amused smile on his face.]

You realize we could do this all day. I thank you for this and I thank you for that. Perhaps it will just be more expedient to say 'thank you' once and let it apply to all things.

[Okay, so maybe he is listening to the logical mind a little bit still.]

How do you want to attempt this, beloved? I remember how it felt to forge the bond with Noctis, but for all the similarities, your abilities are still quite different. Is there anything, when you think of it, that just feels right to you?

I'm not fully sure, my dear. I've never done it before, so I have lingering doubts I even know how--if I'm capable at all.

[He should have, perhaps, given it to Aera if no one else. Careless. She could have protected them both with more than just acting as a human shield, gods knew she had the will to try.]

Perhaps it isn't as complicated as I imagine. Would you give me your hands?

I am certain you are capable. Should anything prevent it, it would be making things too complicated. Astrals know, I could tell you many stories about the dangers of overthinking things.

[He holds out his hands as requested.]

Is there anything else you would like me to do?

No, just...bear with me a moment.

[Ardyn had already taken off his gloves as he did with magic he actually needed to concentrate on, taking Ignis' hands in his own. It couldn't possibly be difficult--for heavens' sake, Somnus could do it.]

[Deep breath, concentrate. If he just...reached out the same way he did when taking something out of that liminal space between tangible and intangible, searched until he found that offered hand in some immaterial form-]

[Eventually, a spark of magic lit between them--a glowing warmth not unlike a fire burning in the darkness. It ran as a brief tingle of electricity from Ardyn to Ignis, before settling itself as some deep, unseen connection.]

[It's hard not to help in some way since it's part of his nature, but they were just talking about how making it too complex may very well prevent them from being able to do the very thing they are trying to do, so Ignis makes himself wait, aware of any changes he may feel, but otherwise not doing anything besides making himself available.

Eventually, his patience is rewarded. When he feels that warmth, that spark, he allows it in, making it part of himself, smiling when he feels it settle within him.]

So much simpler than when I bonded with Noctis. I do think I prefer this way.

[Ardyn laughed softly, the sound made more out of nervous relief than anything particularly funny.]

I...didn't think it would work. I feared that I'd not be meant to have such an ability at all, considering my fate was to have no one to give it to.

[Ignis shakes his head, squeezing Ardyn's hands gently.]

Don't say that. We have no idea what your fate was to be before Bahamut decided to step in and make a mess of everything.

How very optimistic of you. But at any rate--we'll have quite a bit of work to do from here once you've recovered fully. At the very least we'll have to see if I can teach you to warp without my help.

That is going to be an interesting challenge.

[For various reasons, but Ignis looks forward to it nonetheless.]

Try not to laugh at me too hard when I inevitably miss my target and fall on my face.

I promise you I will only laugh but a reasonable amount.

I suppose that's acceptable, though catching me before I fall would be quite dashing of you.

Oh, you've caught me. My whole intent was just to swoop in again for another dramatic rescue.

Such a complex plan to sweep little old me off my feet. You know, all you needed to do was ask if you really wanted to.

And why do that when I can come rushing in making a spectacle of myself?

...Though you really must stop getting into such trouble. If I had a heart, you'd have given me a bit of an episode by now.

I'm not certain giving me more power was the way to go if you wanted me to stay out of trouble, but I will do my best to use it responsibly.

Oh, I know. I'm an awful enabler, aren't I? How fortunate for you that I should be your awful enabler.

Indeed. Now stop being silly and let me hug you.

[Because what better end to a successful power sharing is there than a little cuddling on the beach?]

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November Undercurrent: And We Give Thanks

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